Venetian blind tilting device



Dec. 12, 1950 n. s. POWERS 2,533,505

- VENETIAN BLIND TILTING DEVICE Filed March 14, 1949 INVENTOR. DOST ON 5. POWERS NEY Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Doston S. Powers, Linthicum Heights, Md.

Application March 14, 1949, Serial No. 81,349

' 1 This invention relates to Venetian blinds and more particularly to arrangements for producing a tilt from open to closed position in the slats.

In the conventional type of Venetian blind the slats are tilted to open and closed positions by a direct pull of a cord on the top bar of the blind to which the ladder tapes are attached. As the bar is tilted from a horizontal position, it pulls on the tapes on one edge while those on the opposite edge are loosened, causing the taut edge to rise while the opposite edge lowers. The operator pulls the cords to suit and depends on the amount of friction in the blind to hold the slats in any position he may choose. The amount of pull depends on the guess or judgement that the operator uses at the moment plus the amount of tendency that the slats have to stay in the positions selected. This form of control is uncertain and crude. which makes it more or less unsatisfactory. This invention provides for a more positive control by employing a device attachable to the top bar of a Venetian blind capable of operating'it positively, gradually-and powerfully to position the slats in any tilted position and retain them accurately in it.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a slat adjuster for Venetian blinds that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the previous art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved slat adjuster for a Venetian blind that will permit a control of the adjustment of the slats to an accurate degree and hold them in the position selected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved slat adjuster for a Venetian blind that will work easily and positively and will avoid the use of complicated mechanism or gears for its operation, while at the same time being simple in structure and economical to make.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved slat tilter for Venetian blinds which will rotate the slat tilting mechanism by the horizontal movement of the rope.

Other objects will be made evident as the invention is further detailed.

For a better understanding of the invention and the objects thereof, reference is made to the appended drawings that indicate a particular form of its structure. The drawings in conjunction with the following description portray the operation of the device and explain the principles involved, while the claims emphasize the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a slat adjuster for a Venetian blind, embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a longitudinal center line of the slat adjuster; and

2 Claims. (o1. 160-176) Figure 3 is a sectional .view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters relate to the same parts in all the drawings.

In the particular form of the invention indicated in the drawings, a slat adjuster 20 is coupled to one end portion H] of the top bar l I of a Venetian blind. The slats I2 of the blind are suspended on ladder tapes [3 fastened to them in a conventional manner. and lapped over and tacked to the drums M attached to the bar I I. The blind has a box 15 and the usual brackets [B for holding it in a window or door frame I l. The top bar I I is rotatable on its longitudinal axis to take up various tilted positions from horizontal to vertical, that is open to closed positions.

The slat adjuster 2!) consists of a barrel l8 of hollow cylindrical form, with one end plugged at [9 and slotted at 2| so it may be fitted to the end portion ll! of the top bar II, that is formed cooperativelv with a pin 22 to form this type of coupling. The opposite end portion of the barrel is fi ted with a plug 23 and journalled in a bracket 24. A bracket 25 supports the other end of barrel l 8 so it can revolve freely on its longitudinal axis therein. The barrel !8 has a helical slot 21 in its wall. This slot 21 exten s from points adjacent to the brackets 24 and 25 and makes a complete helical turn. A lug 28 slidably fits in slot 21 of the barrel and is attached to a slider 30 that reciprocates in a tube 3|. A straight groove 32 is formed in the upper wall of the tube 3| for the l g 2 to travel in as it ex ends into the slider 30. The slider 3|! is cyl ndrical with a passage 33 throu h it longitudinally for a pulling cord 34 to pass through. The cord is held in the passage 33 by lug 28. The end portions of the tube 3| are sup orted in the brackets 24 and 25 rigidly so as to keep the tube parallel to the barrel IS. The cord is ont nued through the tube and has its lengths extended down as shown in the drawings for manipulation by the user.

When the cord 34 is pulled in either direction, the slider 30 and lug 28 move in the direction pulled and in doing so the lug 28 moves in the helical slot 21 and turns the barrel l8 on its longitudinal axis an amount depending on the distance the lug is moved. When the barrel turns it rotates the upper bar II the same amount of revolution and pulls the slats likewise through the use of the tapes l3.

The tube 3| being stationary and holding the lug 28 in it in a predetermined position, enables the slider to be pulled to any place within the tube and stay there. Of course the slider is limited in its movement by the length of the groove 32. The adjuster makes an attractive device and is able to take up all wear resulting in its use in an effective manner. The lug may be adjusted to work easily or tightly by screwing it to suit in the slider 30.

The eyelets 38 are attached to the tube 31 and act as guides .ifor .the rope .34 as it is pulled through them.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms .of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scopeof theappended claims.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

1:111 combination with a window frame, :an operating mechanism for tilting the slats of a Venetian blind, consisting of abarrel'hav'ing one end secured to the upperbar of the blind, said barrel having a helical slot on its periphery, spaced brackets ,for supporting said barrel and allowing rotation of the barrel, mounting means for said brackets carried by the window frame, a tube having a longitudinal slot 'there'through, said tube being parallel to :said :barrel and mounted in said brackets, an element guided through the slot of the tube and extending in said helical slot to rotate said barrel as said element reciprocates in .the tube slot, and means .for rec'iprocating said element to rotate said barrel and the upper bar of the blind to tilt the slats attached thereto.

2. An operating mechanism as set forth in claim *1, the means for reciprocating said element consisting of a tubular sliding member secured to the element and fitting within said tube and a pull cord attached to, and internally of,

said sliding member.

DOSTON S. POWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The folloW-ing references .are of record :in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name "Date 1,855,574 Agree Feb. 16, 1932 2,054,165: Moseley Sept. 15., .1936 2,113,933 Darling Apr. .12, .1938 

